Draft updated threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats.

Public consultation on the draft updated threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats was open from 7 September 2023 to 11 December 2023. Consultation has now closed.

We received a total of 1,628 responses during the public consultation period. Thank you to everyone who shared their views. Your feedback was carefully considered in finalising the plan.

The updated threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats has been finalised and is available on the department’s website:

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/threat-abatement-plan-feral-cats

Background on the consultation process

We sought public feedback on the draft updated Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats.

Feral cats kill over 1.5 billion native mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs, and 1.1 billion invertebrates each year in Australia. Predation by cats is a threat to over 200 nationally listed threatened species and they have been implicated in 28 mammal extinctions. They are a major cause of decline for many land-based endangered animals such as the bilby, bandicoot, bettong and numbat. They can also carry infectious diseases which can be transmitted to native animals, domestic livestock and humans.

Reducing the impact of this introduced predator on our native species will support their populations to recover. Threat abatement plans establish a national framework to guide and coordinate Australia’s response to key threats, like feral cats, that impact on our threatened species and ecological communities. The plans identify research, management and other actions stakeholders across Australia can take to ensure the long-term survival of native species and ecological communities.

During the consultation period, the public was invited to:

• read the background document

• read the draft updated threat abatement plan

• take our survey (and upload submission documents if desired).

The consultation period ended on 11 December 2023.

Consultation documents

The following documents are the consultation drafts which were released for comment. These versions have been retained here for reference but are no longer current. The finalised Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats 2024 is available here:

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/threat-abatement-plan-feral-cats

• Draft updated threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats [PDF 4.14MB] [DOCX 2.58MB]

  • Appendix 1 - Nationally threatened and migratory animal species known to be preyed upon by cats, or for which predation by cats is considered a possible or confirmed threat [XLSX 78kB]

  • Appendix 2 - Cat-susceptibility of terrestrial mammals, reptiles, and birds [XLSX 195kB]

• Draft background document for the threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats [PDF 3.3MB] [DOCX 2.05MB]

  • Appendix 4 - List of Australian islands >1 ha with information on feral cat presence and absence [XLSX 377kB]

  • Appendix 5 - Islands from which feral cats have been eradicated (or have had populations that died out) [XLSX 38kB]

  • Appendix 6 - Fenced areas on mainland from which cats have been excluded [XLSX 25kB]

  • Appendix 7 - Nationally threatened and migratory animal species known to be preyed upon by cats, or for which predation by cats is considered a possible or confirmed threat [XLSX 78kB]

  • Appendix 8 - Cat-susceptibility of terrestrial mammals, reptiles and birds; and threatened seabirds [XLSX 195kB]

  • Appendix 9 - Breeding sites for threatened seabirds that breed on islands [XLSX 40kB]

  • Appendix 10 - Matrix of cat-free islands and fenced areas with the extremely and highly susceptible native animals occurring within them [XLSX 138kB]

Read more

More information about threat abatement plans

Information about feral cats in Australia